Education Mission

The New-York Historical Society Education Division provides dynamic programming and curriculum resources for students and teachers in New York and beyond. Historical study sparks curiosity and creativity, promotes cultural understanding, and fosters an empowered citizenry to strengthen our democracy. Our staff of passionate professionals draws on our world-renowned collections to engage learners of all ages in the study of our collective past.

Education programs made possible through endowments established by:
National Endowment for the Humanities
The Hearst Foundations
The Peter Jay Sharp Foundation

Public funding provided by:
Institute for Museum and Library Services
New York City Department of Cultural Affairs in partnership with the City Council
New York State Council on the Arts with the support of Governor Andrew Cuomo and the New York State Legislature

Support the New-York Historical Society

The Art of History is an innovative program that teaches New York and American history, art history, and the visual arts using tangible historical evidence from the vast collections of New York’s oldest museum. Students will hone their observation and descriptive skills as they create art projects to visually document their history learning.

Schedule and Requirements
Ages 7–10
Students must be the age required for their specific class by the date of the first class.
Fridays, 1:30 – 3 pm
$150 per series, $700 if you book all five

Series 1: Westward Expansion
September 15 and 22, October 6, 13, 20
How did the pioneers shape the American West? Learn about the challenges settlers faced on the frontier by analyzing artifacts and images, then study Hudson River School landscapes to discover what motivated so many to go west.Art Activity: Pen and watercolor landscapes of life in the West

Series 2: Civil War
November 3, 10, 17, December 1 and 8
How did the Civil War affect New York City and its residents? Compare various groups of New Yorkers and their responses to the national conflict and examine how battlefield artists captured scenes of the war through charcoal illustration.Art Activity: Charcoal drawings that represent the lives and experiences of a variety of New Yorkers

Series 3: Immigration
January 5, 12, 19, 26, February 2
What was the process and emotional impact of immigration in the early 20th century? Analyze artifacts, photographs, and Expressionist works of art produced by immigrant artists. Then create an immigrant narrative that describes the process of immigration to the U.S. in the early 1900s.Art Activity: Expressionist mix-media postcard illustrations depicting the feelings and thoughts that immigrants might have had

Series 4: Industrial Revolution
February 9 and 16, March 9, 16, 23
How did New Yorkers’ lives change during the Industrial Revolution? Using artifacts and images along with breathtaking Tiffany lamps, imagine how key innovations modernized America at the turn of the 20th century and shaped the daily lives of New Yorkers.Art Activity: Mosaic celebrating an industrial age innovation

Series 5: Architecture in NYC
April 20, May 4, 11, 18, 25
How did our modern skyline come to be? Compare buildings from New York City’s past to those in the city today and investigate how and why architecture has changed over time.Art Activity: Three-dimensional, mixed-media structure that contributes to a class cityscape celebrating the diverse skyline